AU680908B2

AU680908B2 - Device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles and device for selective cutting of toothbrush bristles

Info

Publication number: AU680908B2
Application number: AU67553/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alexandre Petrocini Falleiros; Paulo Rogerio Braga Lima; Bernard Reinesch
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson Consumer Products Inc; Johnson and Johnson Consumer Companies LLC
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson Consumer Inc
Priority date: 1993-07-21
Filing date: 1994-07-18
Publication date: 1997-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-18
Also published as: CA2128475A1; DE69414663D1; JP3504343B2; DE69414663T2; HK1002680A1; GR940100358A; BR9302945A; CA2128475C; EP0639340B1; AU6755394A; JPH07148022A; KR950002672A; ATE173384T1; TW338924U; EP0639340A1

Abstract

This invention refers to a device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles that allows the toothbrush bristles to be cut into different lengths and profiles in different selected areas. According to this invention, the device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles comprises a base (1) with fixation means (2) for a toothbrush (3) having bristles (20), and a support (6) assembled over the base (1), wherein the support (6) comprises a pair of simetrically pivoting stems (7) over a first geometric plane, the support (6) being displaceable over a portion of the base (1) along a geometric axle that is parallel to said first geometric plane, from a resting position to a position of contact betweent the stems (7) and said bristles and a cam means (4) cooperating with the respective portions of the stems (7), during at least part of said displacement of the support (6) over the base (1), in order to cause the simetrically pivoting movement of the stems (7). Additionally, this invention refers to a device for selective cutting of toothbrush bristles comprising the above mentioned device for selective separation. <IMAGE>

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 0 M P RT RTF f P T T P S m T n C C 0M L TE SP r WT 0A r Tn FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: JOHNSON JOHNSON CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.

Alexandre Petrocini FALLEIROS, Bernard REINESCH and Paulo Rogerio Braga LIMA SHELSTON WATERS Clarence Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 "DEVICE FOR SELECTIVE SEPARATION OF TOOTHBRUSH BRISTLES AND DEVICE FOR SELECTIVE CUTTING OF TOOTHBRUSH BRISTLES" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- -2- This invention refers to a device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles, which allows toothbrush bristles to be cut according to different lengths and profiles in different selected areas, and which comprises a base with fixation means for a toothbrush and a support assembled over the base. In a second aspect, this invention relates to a device for selective cutting of toothbrush bristles including a device for selective separation of bristles.

A layout today frequently found in toothbrushes is that in which the toothbrush bristles have different lengths, some of them longer and others shorter, with the objective of providing S. an efficient and healthy way of cleaning the user's teeth.

se: Document EP 0458999 discloses a device to cut toothbrush bristles into different sizes 1 o in different selected areas, comprising a support to fix the toothbrush head and at least a protecting plate associated with a determined region of the toothbrush bristles and mobile between a resting position far from the head and bristle end, and an active position, near to the head. The protecting plate is provided with board means to couple the bristle ends in the gong selected area and to provide a radial component of movement to the coupled bristle ends, 1 Is folding the corresponding bristles away from the bristles located outside the selected region, through the movement of said board in an axial direction, from upward to downward, from a resting position to an active position.

This device is applicable in the separation of bristles of toothbrushes having any head shape whatsoever. However, for such purpose, the protecting plates should have different shapes corresponding to different toothbrush head shapes and required bristle cutting specification. Additionally, depending on the desired bristle cutting specification and the toothbrush head shape, the plates may have a quite complex design, hence being difficult to manufacture and thus requiring high manufacturing costs.

-3- Another method usually employed for the selective cutting of toothbrush bristles comprises a base with fixation means for a toothbrush and a mobile support over the base, the support comprising also a pair of levers which are fixedly assembled to the support and which advance in a perpendicular direction towards the toothbrush bristles when the support is moved over the base.

This device has the disadvantage that the levers are able to separate only bristle tufts which are aligned in a parallel line to the toothbrush's longitudinal axis. Particularly in the .9 0B case of a toothbrush with a triangular head or snake head this results in bristle tufts that are

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o irregularly cut, as the tufts are not provided in a parallel line to the toothbrush longitudinal 10 axis.

An objective hereof is that of providing a device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles, able to accurately separate a group of bristles which are within a determined and 0* .o selected region from those which are outside the selected region, thus allowing the toothbrush bristles to be cut into different lengths and profiles in the different selected regions.

0050 sees 15 An objective of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to provide a device for the selective cutting of toothbrush bristles including a device for the selective separation of bristles.

0 4 According to one aspect the invention consists in a device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles, comprising a base with fixation means for a toothbrush having bristles, and a support mounted over the base, wherein: the support comprises a pair of symmetrically pivoting levers over a first geometric plane, the support being displaceable over a portion of the base along a geometric axis khat is -4parallel to the first geometric plane, from a resting position to a position of contact between the levers and said bristles; and camn means co-operating with portions of the levers, during at least part of said displacement of the support over the base whereby to cause symmetrically pivoting movement of the levers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles comprises a support that is mobile over a base, from a resting position to a contact Sposition of the levers vith the bristles, along at least one guide pin fixedly mounted over the base, with at least one spring provided between the base and the support.

Each pivoting kAver comprises a contact roller (cam follower) which is in contact with the cam means, and a distal lever end has the function of acting over the bristles of the toothbrush that is fixed on the base fixation means. The cam means is configured as a plate with a predetermined shape, which plate is fixedly mounted over the base. In a preferred O embodiment of this invention, the cam means is substantially of a lozenge shape, this shape 15 being appropriate for selective separation of the bristles of a triangle head toothbrush.

Between each lever and the support is a spring having the function of keeping each of the

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o 0 lever rollers in contact with the contours of the cam means.

Preferably, the pivoting levers are of prismatic shape. In another embodiment, each of the levers comprises two flat and elongated portions disposed at right angles to each oth'r. In yet another embodiment, the lever surfaces responsible for the bristles displacement are of substantially curved form.

According to a second aspect of this invention, a device is provided for the selective cutting of toothbrush bristles, comprising a base with fixation means for a toothbrush with bristles, a support assembled over the base and a roller to cut bristles, where the support comprises a pair of symmetrically pivoting levers over a first geometric plane, the support being displaceable over a portion of the base along a geometric axis that is parallel to said first geometric plane, from a resting position to a contact position of the levers with said bristles, during at least part of said displacement of the support over the base, in order to cause the symmetrical pivoting movement of the levers.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of oexample only with reference to the drawings in which: *o S.

Figure 1 is an upper plan view of a first embodiment of a device for selective cutting of o10 toothbrush bristles in the resting position, with a triangle or snake head toothbrush fixed to the device base; Figure 2 is an upper plan view of the device shown in figure 1 in the contact position of

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S• ,the levers with the bristles or cutting position; 0 Figure 3 is an upper plan view of the device shown in figure 1; ooo.

15 Figure 4 is an upper plan view of the base of the device shown in figure 1; Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the support of the device shown in figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic view ofa ~;econd embodiment for the separating pivoting levers of the device shown in figure 1; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the toothbrush head having the outside bristles already separated from the central bristles for further cutting of the latter; Figure 8 is a schematic view of the toothbrush head having the central bristles already separated from the outside bristles through separating levers of the type shown in figure 6, for further cutting of the outside bristles.

a~ -6- According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the device for selective cutting of toothbrush bristles comprises a base 1 with fixation means 2 for a toothbrush head 3 having bristles 20 which project perpendicularly from the toothbrush head, and a mobile support 6 over the base 1, movable from a resting position to a cutting position.

As better shown in figure 4, base 1 comprises cam means 4 composed of a depression of appropriate shape provided in the form of a perforated plate fixed to base 1 by means of screws 0 Support 6 comprises a pair of levers with prismatic shape 7, which are pivotedly assembled in support 6 through pivot pins 8. As can be seen in figure 5, at one end of each S o10 lever 7 is a roller 9 which is linked to support 6 through a spring 10. Thus, as better shown in oil figure 3, when support 6 is assembled over base 1, rollers 9 of levers 7 are provided in the interior of the cam 4, springs 10 having the function of keeping rollers 9 in permanent contact with the contours of said cam 4. Thus, when support 6 advances towards base 1, from the 56 resting position to the cutting position, levers 7 are provided with a relative movement of 13 opening and closing, similar to the movement of scissor blades, with their most extreme portions (distal ends) being close or far one from the other according to the shape of the ease g. 5contour of the cam 4.

Levers 7 are symmetrically pivoting over a first geometric plane, with support 6 being mobile over base 1, from the resting position to the cutting position, along a geometric axis that is parallel to this first geometric plane. Thus, the first geometric plane, over which levers 7 are symmetrically pivoting during the advance of support 6 over base 1, is perpendicular to the bristles 20 of said toothbrush 3 that is attached to fixation means 2, as it can be observed in figures 1 and 2.

L1 -7- Thus, upon advancing over the bristles, levers 7 accurately and progressively separate one selected portion of the toothbrush bristles, according to the contours of the cam 4, pushing the bristles which are in the selected area away from those which are outside the selected area.

As can be better seen in figures 2 and 3, base I is provided also with a plate 11 fixed by screws 18 in the end distant from the fixation means 2 for a toothbrush. Plate 11 is provided with a pair of guide shafts 12 spaced apart, which are disposed one on each side of base 1 and which extend from plate 11, traverse the support 6 through corresponding holes, and extend into a pair of holes provided on base 1. Thus, as it can be seen in figures 1 and 2, support 6 is mobile along guide shafts 12 over base 1, from a resting position to a cutting position in to 10 which levers 7 contact bristles

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S Se *555 Plate 11 is also provided with screws 13, and to each of them an end of a spring 14 is attached. The other end of each of springs 14 is attached to a screw 15 provided on the end of "oprojecting plates 16 fixed by screws one on each side of support 6.

In an embodiment of this invention, base 1 is fixed on a working station wherein, for 15 example, a pneumatically driven acting element (not shown) runs perpendicularly to the geometric -xis of displacement of support 6. The acting element has a wedge shape and is in 0" contact with a roller 17 provided on the back portion of support 6. Thus, when the acting element begins to move, support 6 is progressively displaced from the resting position to the cutting position, as schematically shown in figures 1 and 2.

As already mentioned, upon displacement over base 1 pivoting levers 7 on support 6 are displaced in a plane perpendicular to the toothbrush bristles, describing a symmetrically pivoting movement such as defined by cam means 4, while rollers 9 of levers 7 advance through the contours of the cam 4. Thus, upon advancing among the toothbrush head bristles, MMOMI&IM AMOI OMMlra -8the levers separate a selected group of bristles, providing them with a side inclination in relation to the flat face of the toothbrush head, in such a way as to push them away from those bristles which are in the cutting area.

As shown in figure 4, cam means 4 is substantially lozenge shaped, so that the device shown is'particularly appropriate for the selective separation of bristles in triangle head toothbrushes.

After the support reaches its maximum advance position, that is, after reaching its cutting position, in which all bristles in the selected area have already been pushed away from the other bristles, a bristle cutting roller (not shown) enters into contact with bristles outside 10 the selected area, cutting them into a determined length and profile. After cutting, the driving o• member of support 6 pneumatically returns to its initial position, progressively releasing support 6 that returns to its resting position through the action of springs 14.

The abovementioned cutting rollers are widely known by those skilled in the art and are therefore not shown in the annexed drawings.

15 Simultaneously with the return of support 6 to its resting position, the pivoting levers 7 start to release the toothbrush bristles which were in the selected area, in such a way that these fee* retake their initial vertical position. However, it is possible that some of these bristles do not 4 return to the vertical position. In these cases, a comb-type device may be used to bring them to their original position, which device is also widely known to those skilled in the art and therefore is not shown in the annexed drawings.

In another embodiment of the invention, base 1 is mobile over a rolling track (not shown) in a perpendicular direction to the geometric axis of displacement of support 6. In this embodiment, the acting element comprises a fixed plate (not shown), having a boss or -9protuberance that is responsible for the displacement of support 6 over base 1 while support 6 roller 17 accompanies the profile of said plate.

As shown in the figures, the device of this invention may be used to separate more peripheral bristles from bristles comprising a triangle head toothbrush 3. Thus, for example, upon advancing towards the toothbrush bristles, the pivoting levers 7 separate the peripheral bristles from the central ones, providing the peripheral bristles with a radial movement, pushing them away from more central bristles.

e •In this case, after cutting, the bristles show a configuration in which the more peripheral bristles are longer than the central ones, as schematically shown in figure 7.

In another embodiment, the device of this invention may be applied to allow only the cutting of more peripheral bristles. In this case, levers 7 with prismatic section are replaced by levers 7 which comprise two flat and elongated portions provided with a right angle between them. Figure 6 shows a pair of levers of this type. These lever portions forming a right angle are overlapped when in operation, in such a way that when the device reaches its 15 cutting position, the most central bristles of the toothbrush are insulated from the most peripheral bristles, thus allowing that only these most peripheral bristles are cut by the cutting •bee roller, as schematically shown in figure 8.

0 It must be observed that the device of this invention may be used to separate bristles of toothbrushes with different head shapes, and also can be used to separate different groups of bristles among the bristles comprising the toothbrush, it being enough for this purpose to vary the configuration of the cam means 4 provided in base 1 and the shape of pivoting levers 7.

Thus, for example, in the case where a cam having a contour defined by parallel side walls is used, parallel groups of bristles might be separated in the toothbrush.

In another embodiment, cam 4 might consist of a protuberance in base 1. against which salient wall rollers 9 of levers 7 would be forced, for example by means of a sole spring provided between pivoting levers 7. Further, the rollers might be replacec Ly dry ends, that is, "cam followers" which would engage the cam walls.

It shall be readily understood that the device for selective cutting of toothbrush bristles, as shown in the drawings, only exemplifies the invention in its presently preferred form, wherein the scope of protection of this invention should be limited only by the terms of the attached claims.

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Claims

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support is movable over the base, from the resting position to the position of contact between the levers and the bristles, along at least S..one guide shaft fixedly mounted over the base.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one spring is connected between the S* 15 base and the support.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein each lever comprises a roller in contact with the cam means. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cam means comprises a depression with a pre-determined shape, provided as a plate fixedly mounted upon the base.
6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cam means constitutes a boss with a pre- determined shape provided as a plate fixedly mounted upon the base.
7. A device according to claims 5 or 6, wherein the cam means is substantially lozenge shaped. -12-
8. A device according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein cam-engaging portions of the levers are resiliently biased into contact with a contoured surface of the cam means by springs connecting the levers to said support.
9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the cam-engaging portions of the levers are rollers which are resiliently biased into contact with the contoured surface of the cam by at least one spring connecting the two levers. A device according to claim 1 wherein a bristle-engaging portion of the levers is of Soprismatic shape. 0*
11. A device according to claim 1 wherein a bristle-engaging portion of each lever *"o 10 comprises two flat and elongated portions provided at right angle one to the other.
12. A device according to claim 1 wherein a bristle-engaging portion of the surface is of a substantially curved shape.
13. A device for the selective cutting of toothbrush bristles, comprising a base with fixation means for a toothbrush having bristles, a support assembled over the base and a bristles 0A., •15 cutting roller, characterised in that: the support comprises a pair of symmetrically pivoting levers over a first geometric 09 0 plane, the support being displaceable over a portion of the base along a geometric axis that is parallel to the first geometric plane, from a resting position to a position of contact between the levers and said bristles; and a cam co-operating with respective engaging portions of the levers, during at least part of said displacement of the support over the base, in order to cause the symmetrical pivoting movement of the levers.
14. A device according to claim 13, characterised in that: -13- the support is moved over the base, from the resting position to the position of contact between the levers and the bristles, along at least one guide shaft fixedly mounted upon the base; at least one spring is connected between the base and the support; each of the levers comprises a roller for contact with a cam means including a cam contour; the cam means constitutes a depression with a pre-determined shape provided as a plate that is fixedly mounted upon the base, and whereby the rollers are kept in contact with the contour of the cam.
15. A device according to claim 13 wherein the levers have a bristle-engaging portion which is of prismatic shape.
16. A device according to claim 13 wherein each of the levers comprises two flat and elongated portions provided with a right angle between them.
17. A device according to claim 13 wherein a bristle-engaging surface of the levers is of a S 15 substantially curved shape.
18. A device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 4th Day of June 1997 JOHNSON JOHNSON CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC Attorney: IAN T. ERNST Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS -I ABSTRACT This invention refers to a device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles that allows the toothbrush bristles to be cut into different lengths and profiles in different selected areas. According to this invention, the device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles comprises a base with fixation means for a toothbrush having bristles and a support assembled over the base wherein the support comprises a pair of symmetrically pivoting levers over a first geometric plane, the support being displaceable over a portion of the base along a geometric axis that is parallel to said first 1 geomeiric plane, from a resting position to a position of contact between the levers and said bristles and a cam means co-operating with the respective portions of the levers during at least part of said displacement of the support over the base in order to cause the symmetrically pivoting movement of the levers Additionally, this invention refers to a device for selective cutting of toothbrush bristles comprising the abovementioned device for selective separation.